I was just finishing my work day today when I received an email from MindBodyGreen.com (one of my favorite websites) that they will be publishing an article I wrote for them...tomorrow! That is exactly the DAY AFTER TODAY! Less than 24 hours from now... You get the point!

One would think that I would be celebrating and running around giddy. While I am very excited, I am also a bit nervous. You see, I have had issues over the past few years that came to a boiling point in January that I have shared only with those closest to me.

Part of my process of healing was writing about my experience which felt great and was very refreshing. I took the plunge and clicked "send" to submit my article three days ago before giving myself the option to decide that maybe it wasn't a good idea.

So there it was, sent out into email land with no way of turning back. I figured it would get lost in the thousands of submissions and nothing would come of it. But I was completely wrong. They found it interesting and think it will be of benefit or interest to their thousands of daily readers.

So I ask everyone to please keep an open-mind about this very personal story of mine. My biggest fear originally was that people would judge be, but at this point, I really don't mind. If someone wants to label or judge me, that is their choice and I won't let it get me down. By going through what I did, a new and healthier version of Michelle has emerged. I learned so much about myself and it can only be of benefit in my health coaching practice as I can speak from experience and from my heart.

My biggest hope is that there are people out there that relate to my situation and hopefully seek the right kind of help before they hit rock bottom, like I did.

So stay tuned...I will share the article tomorrow on my Facebook page when it is published. If you haven't "liked" my Facebook page, you can do it here:

Today my 11 year old daughter and I went shopping together. We have done this countless times and often, it ends up in sheer frustration for both of us. It seems we only shop for clothes for her when there is an important event or she has all of a sudden grown out of everything she owns. With that kind of urgent need, it always brings on great amounts of stress.

For example, a day before her 5th grade graduation a couple weeks ago, we were frantically trying to find a cover-up to go over her dress that had spaghetti straps. The straps were against dress code so it was something we HAD to find that night since we didn't have a plan "b" dress. And THAT was stressful. Shopping when its last minute is sure to make even the happiest people turn a little grumpy.

We are going to Arizona on vacation in a few weeks and we decided to go shopping today for her clothes. Since the event is still a bit away, we had no real expectations going in. Our day went perfectly without having the added stress on us. We found everything she needed (and then some!) and even enjoyed a stop for frozen yogurt. I realized as we got in the car to come home, after shopping for hours, that we were both in a great mood and singing to all the songs on the radio. Usually we are both worn out and not in the mood for chit chat, much less singing.

My goal for this year is to stress less. Sure I have a lot going on, but I am making the effort to turn off all electronics and actually be present in the moment. That is what I did today and it was just perfect!

The first group to go through my summer detox is currently on day 5 of their journey to wellness. We have such a great group on our private Facebook page where we share and support each other. This kind of support and the group aspect really allows you to stick with the program because of this level of accountability. I was so excited to read this from one of my clients today via email:

"I think I have lost a little weight...I feel way better...no more congestion from dairy and junk. Energy level amazing! The food is awesome and I have not had any moments of feeling overly hungry or tired! I am going to incorporate a bunch of elements into my daily life moving forward!"

This is exactly why I am so passionate about sharing this cleanse with everyone I know. I feel like many people see the words "detox" and "cleanse" and immediately talk themselves out of it. There is nothing to be scared of, if anything, this is a time of excitement about finding awesome foods that you can incorporate the rest of your life.

The DIY Detox is still for sale and you will get all the materials and access to the private Facebook page. Please check it out and email me if you have questions. I promise you, it will change you for the better. You will not be deprived or starving. And remember, it's only ONE WEEK! How awesome is it that you could totally rid yourself of toxins and create a healthier, happier version of yourself in just one week?

As many of you know, our first group detox starts on Monday. I am so excited to get going on this and see how everyone transforms along the way. I went to the grocery store Friday night to get a head start, which is actually my favorite time to go. Generally it isn't too crowded and everyone is cheerful given that the weekend is upon us. I noticed something very different about this trip. Generally, we go to the outside of the store, meaning we go to produce, the meat/fish counter then on to eggs and milk (only almond milk!). We might go down an aisle to get paper towels or something like that, but we mainly shop on the outsides. When shopping this way, you are buying only whole, real food. Nothing comes in fancy packaging filled with loads of sugar and the dreaded GMO. But this trip I only went to the produce section. I spent about 30 minutes in it, but that is all. It was so simple! I have my own produce bags as well so we don't waste the plastic bags. I have people stop me all the time asking about them. (Amazon!) I used every single bag I had and left with a cart full of fresh fruits and veggies. You can see in the picture our refrigerator after the trip...how amazing does that look? My husband and I have spent the weekend making delicious recipes from the detox guide. Fresh peach salsa, green juices, salads and soups. We are going to finish the night off with a delicious smoothie that really does taste like ice cream. My advice is to really notice what part of the grocery that you shop in the most. If you are up and down the aisles, it might be worth spending a bit more time in the fresh produce section. And if you need help with recipes or figuring out what the heck to do with fennel, let me know! Here's to a healthy rest of the weekend!

Well summer is officially here! The kids are out of school and here in Texas we already have the hot, blazing sun.

I am working hard on the finishing touches for the Summer Detox and couldn't be more excited! It is going to change the lives of those who choose to join us. I already have a great group started and will make the "secret" Facebook page available next week. This is where everyone can share the experience together, ask questions and get great support. So if you have been putting off joining, go ahead and take the plunge! The recipes are amazing and you will not be hungry or deprived through the week. You will be fueling your body with healthy food that will make you glow from the inside out!

If you have questions about the cleanse, please email me. I am glad to chat with you and explain things further. Happy Summer!

Michelle Bland

My mission as a Certified Health Coach is to make the world a happier, healthier place, one person, one meal at a time, with love and gratitude. I work to inspire others to live a life of prevention and overall wellness!